Multiple reports suggest that the Boston Red Sox are in the market for a long-term shortstop, and Jon Heyman named them the likeliest landing spot for Zach Neto during a livestream for Bleacher Report.
The Red Sox traded for Curtis Mead recently, and he is under contract through 2030. He will miss a chunk of time with a wrist injury, but figures to be the everyday second baseman when healthy. That leaves the Red Sox with Marcelo Mayer and Trevor Story as options to be the starting shortstop when they are healthy. Adding a long-term shortstop at the trade deadline could complicate things for their futures.
Not to mention, the Red Sox's top prospect, Franklin Arias, could be ready to debut very soon. Still, the Red Sox have checked in on CJ Abrams, Jeremy Peña, Otto Lopez and Neto. They seem to be determined to add a shortstop with some control, meaning they may be giving up on Story and Mayer.
Neto strikes out a ton, but has serious power. He has 19 homers this year and has 68 home runs in the last three seasons. He could take over as the everyday shortstop, and Mayer or Story could slide over to second base while Mead is out.
Neto is under contract through 2029, so adding him would certainly raise questions about Arias' future. He is one of the best prospects in all of baseball, and blocking his path to the big leagues could be a problem. However, if the Red Sox want to win a World Series this year, they need more out of the shortstop position.
Heyman tabbed the Tampa Bay Rays as the second likliest landing spot for Neto, with the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves in third and fourth place, respectively.